The Quietus Best of 2014 list by Stewart Smith

With so much creative and exciting jazz and improvised music out there, no single list could hope to represent it all. So, a disclaimer: this top twenty is an entirely personal selection, determined by my own tastes, knowledge and access. It’s largely on the avant-garde side of things, but that doesn’t mean this music is inaccessible or overly cerebral. This is some of the most beautiful, inventive and passionate music I’ve heard this year, and there’s no shortage of great tunes, riffs or rhythms alongside the skronking and scraping. To reflect the global spread of this music, I’ve tried to cover a number of British, European and Japanese artists alongside the American masters. There will inevitably be great albums I’ve overlooked, so feel free to add your recommendations in the comments section below. We’ll be back in January with the regular roundup of new releases, reissues and event previews. But for now, party on and free the jazz!